Department for Communities and Local Government

Floods

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 3 November (HL2670), how the remaining 10 per cent of funding allocated for flood relief is being spent.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Funding is being allocated on a case-by-case basis to support evidenced local need.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

District Heating

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consumer protection exists in relation to energy pricing for customers of district heating networks.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: There are provisions relating to price transparency, metering and billing of district heating networks in the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014. There is also a requirement for energy costs to be provided in a format which enables customers to compare the charges of different energy suppliers. A voluntary code called HeatTrust was established last year by the industry trade association, with the support of Government, to improve customer protection in this sector. HeatTrust has recently launched an on-line price comparator tool for heat network customers.Heat network customers are covered by general consumer protection, competition and contract law as well as tenancy law where relevant.

District Heating

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what responsibilities Ofgem has in relation to consumer protection for customers of district heating networks.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Ofgem is responsible for the regulation of the gas and electricity markets. Its remit does not cover district heating networks or protection for heat network customers.

District Heating

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to conduct a review into competition between, and pricing of, district heating networks.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: At present, there are no plans for the government to conduct a formal review into competition between, and pricing of, the heat network industry. The Government monitors these issues as part of its implementation of the Heat Network Investment Project and the development of the market more generally.

Research

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks made by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation in evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Committee concerning the establishment of a high level forum on the impact of Brexit for science and research (7th Report, Session 2016–17, HC 502), whether representatives of small and medium sized enterprises will be included in this forum.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government has been talking extensively to stakeholders. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation is setting up a forum with a number of senior representatives of UK research and innovation organisations to discuss opportunities and issues arising from the UK’s exit from the European Union. This group will work with Government to ensure it has the best evidence to keep the UK punching above its weight in research and innovation. The membership of this forum will be confirmed shortly.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Darfur: Chemical Weapons

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning, through the UK's membership of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, to ask for clarification from the government of Sudan regarding allegations made by Amnesty International that Sudan has used chemical weapons in attacks against civilians in the Darfur region; and whether they will request a challenge inspection if further clarification is not forthcoming.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: ​The UK continues to work very closely with both the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and Amnesty International. The government of Sudan, as a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), is obliged to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons within its territory and to report to the OPCW. In order to instigate a challenge inspection to be carried out by the OPCW, another state party to the CWC is required to present further credible evidence, for example, in addition to the allegations contained in Amnesty's report. We are not aware of any such further evidence. We continue to urge the government of Sudan to allow access throughout Darfur and to enable the United Nations/African Union Peacekeeping Mission to carry out its core mandate to protect civilians.

Syria: EU Common Foreign and Security Policy

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had, or are having, with the European Commission and the European External Action Service about the development of an EU strategy for Syria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: ​Ministers and officials regularly discuss what approach the EU should take in response to the situation in Syria with EU colleagues, including at recent October and November Foreign Affairs Council meetings.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the demolition or confiscation of 18 structures, eight of which had been provided as humanitarian assistance, in six Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem and Area C, displacing people, including children, and affecting the livelihoods of others.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we have not made any representations to the Israeli authorities on this specific case, on 7 September during a meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman in London, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) expressed our opposition to demolitions. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv also continues to raise our strong concerns about demolitions with the Israeli authorities.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding damage to structures and access restrictions to grazing areas resulting from military training exercises conducted by Israeli forces in the northern Jordan Valley.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have not made representations to the Israeli authorities on this specific issue.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of the wounding of Palestinian students, with others suffering from tear gas inhalation, by Israeli forces inside Al Quds University in Abu Dis, East Jerusalem.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have not made representations on this specific issue. We recognise the Israeli authorities' legitimate need to deploy security measures in some circumstances, but we have encouraged them to ​​avoid excessive use of force and act in a way which minimises tensions. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have urged the Israeli authorities to conduct swift and transparent investigations.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the extension of Israel's wall which will block access to Palestinian lands in the Cremisan Valley.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have raised this issue repeatedly with the Israeli authorities. Officials from the British Consul General in Jerusalem have also met with local community leaders to emphasise our continuing support for the community and our opposition to the Separation Barrier in general.

Ahmad Manasra

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the 12-year prison sentence given to 14-year-old Ahmad Manasra.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have not raised this specific case with the Israeli authorities. Whilst we condemn all acts of violence which target innocent civilians, we are deeply concerned about the treatment of Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons. We continue to push for the implementation of previously agreed improvements and encourage further changes in practice.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel following the Israeli military blockade of Palestinian communities south of Nablus District from 4 to 11 September.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities. However, whilst we recognise the legitimate need of Israel to deploy security measures in certain circumstances, we strongly encourage the Israeli Government to ​avoid use of excessive force and act in a way which minimises tensions.

Occupied Territories: Housing

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel over the legislation currently before the Knesset which could retroactively legalise Israeli settlement building on private Palestinian land.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: On 16 November the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) issued a statement expressing our deep concerns over this bill.The UK's position on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution. In November, Minister Ellwood issued two statements about Israeli settlement announcements, expressing deep concerns about the development of new Israeli settlement units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israel’s systematic policy of settlement expansion is undermining the chances of achieving a two state solution.

Andargachew Tsege

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Ethiopia concerning the detention of Andargachew Tsige, a British national, further to those made by the Foreign Secretary in a call to his Ethiopian counterpart, Dr Tedros, and what reassurance have they obtained about (1) his treatment whilst in prison, (2) his access to independent legal advice, (3) his access to regular consular assistance, and (4) his death sentence not being carried out.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK Government takes Mr Tsege's case seriously. The Ethiopian Government are in no doubt as to our concerns for Mr Tsege and the priority we place upon his wellbeing. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) has raised the case each time he has spoken to his Ethiopian counterparts and the Ambassador raises it regularly at the highest levels in Ethiopia, most recently after her visit to Mr Tsege in prison on 11 November. From her discussions with Mr Tsege she was reassured of his welfare and was also able to give Mr Tsege a list of local lawyers. This is an important step toward Mr Tsege having access to legal advice to discuss his options under Ethiopian law. He must now be allowed to contact them without obstruction. We will continue to press the Ethiopians to abide by this commitment. The recent visit to Mr Tsege was the 12th visit to him by UK Government officials. We will also continue to press the Ethiopians to ensure that they abide by their commitment to ensure regular consular access to Mr Tsege. The Government opposes the use of the death penalty under all circumstances. We have made our stance on the death penalty very clear to the Ethiopian authorities.

Gaza

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 15 November (HL2871), whether they will raise the issue of access to Gaza for UN and other international non-governmental organisation personnel at more senior levels with both Israel and Egypt.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we do not intend to raise the specific issue of access for United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisation personnel, we continue to call on the governments of Israel and Egypt to show maximum flexibility in opening the crossings into Gaza to help facilitate travel in and out of Gaza. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv most recently raised the issue of movement and access with the Israeli Head of Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories Civil Division on 7 September. We remain concerned that the Rafah crossing with Egypt has been mostly closed since October 2014.

Serena Shim

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will call on the governments of Turkey and the USA to establish an independent investigation into the death of the US journalist Serena Shim in Turkey in 2014.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have no plans to call on the government of Turkey or the USA to investigate the death of Serena Shim in Turkey.

Zimbabwe: Police

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on (1) freedom of the press, and (2) the impact on freedom of expression, of proposals to empower police to intercept communications and seize electronic equipment in Zimbabwe.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are concerned about the proposed Social Media Bill in Zimbabwe. The British Ambassador raised this with the Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting on 19 September highlighting the importance of protecting freedom of media and expression, as guaranteed by Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution. The Ambassador also emphasised the importance of urgent implementation in law of the provisions of the constitution.

Syria: Military Intervention

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ascertain how much land is currently occupied by the Turkish Army in al-Rai and Azaz near Jarabulus in Syria; what attacks the Turkish Army have made on Afrin Canton; and whether the local Turkmen population has rejected protection by Turkey.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are unable to verify the information requested given the opaque and fast-moving situation in Northern Syria. We welcome the Free Syrian Army's success in clearing Daesh from the border with Turkey, which it achieved with active Turkish military support. We also recognise that the Syrian Democratic Forces continue to make an important contribution to counter Daesh efforts. We call on all parties to work constructively alongside the Global Coalition to achieve our shared objective of defeating Daesh and avoid civilian casualties.

Climate Change

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what priority the Foreign and Commonwealth Office places on climate change; how many of its civil servants work or worked on climate change in a full and part-time capacity (1) currently, (2) in 2015, (3) in 2014, and (4) in 2013.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Climate change is one of the important global issues that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) works on through diplomacy. In doing so, we work closely with other government departments including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.The FCO has staff working on climate diplomacy both in London and overseas.Overseas, staff numbers include UK-based and locally engaged staff. We have identified activity allocated towards 'Climate Change/Low Carbon Economy/Energy Security' on our financial systems. These figures rely on individual staff member's recording of their activities, and show numbers of FCO staff Full Time Equivalent (FTE) who spend some time in this policy area. The resource is allocated as part of broader geographical activity so exact numbers can change. Hence we are able to provide a snapshot of the number of staff at a point in time. In January 2016, 149 FTE members of staff were working on climate change and energy issues across our network of embassies, high commissions and other overseas posts, of which 72 staff worked on these issues full-time. In January 2015, 158 FTE members of staff worked on climate change and energy issues, of which 79 were devoted to these issues full-time. In January 2014, 177 FTE staff undertook this work, of which 86 were devoted full-time. And in March 2013, 177 FTE staff members worked on these issues, of which 72 were devoted full-time. Our next set of updated figures will be available in the New Year.In London, the following figures reflect our best estimates of staff working specifically on climate change as part of units primarily focused on climate and energy. Currently there are 8 FTE members of staff working on climate change. In September 2015, 16 FTE members of staff were working on this issue. In September 2014, 20 FTE members of staff were working on it. And in July 2013, an estimated 26 FTE members of staff were working on climate change.

Ilois: Resettlement

Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had or plan to have with the government of Mauritius following their decision to deny the right of return to the Chagos people.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have continually sought the views of the Mauritian Government in regards to the Chagossian resettlement review. The British High Commissioner to Mauritius met representatives of the Mauritian Government on 16 November to explain our decision against resettlement and the support package of approximately £40 million for Chagossians, including those living in Mauritius. The Government will continue to make efforts to work closely with Mauritius to develop cost-effective programmes which will make the biggest improvement in the life chances of those Chagossians who need it most.

Department for Education

Refugees: Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to select and guide the foster parents of new child refugees.

Lord Nash: Caring for any child requires skills and dedication. Local authorities and independent fostering agencies select and prepare all foster carers for this challenging role. The Government is committed to ensuring foster carers are afforded the appropriate recognition, support and training to ensure every looked-after child receives the high-quality care they need. We have funded a range of initiatives including “Fosterline” – a helpline which provides a confidential, impartial free advice service for foster carers and potential foster carers. In addition, in September we commissioned the Refugee Council and ECPAT to deliver training for foster carers and support workers who are not experienced in working with unaccompanied asylum seeking or refugee children. The Government has also committed to evaluate the need for any additional training required by foster carers looking after unaccompanied children as part of our wider safeguarding strategy for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children. Further information on our safeguarding strategy can be found on the Government’s website, GOV.UK, by searching for ‘Safeguarding unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children’.

Sex and Relationship Education

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Nash on 24 November, when they expect to announce a date for the introduction of statutory sex and relationship education in all state schools.

Lord Nash: Sex education is already compulsory in secondary maintained schools, and the Government is clear that all schools should make provision for high quality, age-appropriate sex and relationship education, which is a vital part of preparing young people for life in modern Britain. The Secretary of State agreed that we need to look again at how schools deliver high quality personal, social, health and economic education including sex and relationship education. The Government is considering all the options and will give a view in due course.

Ministry of Justice

Youth Justice System Review

Lord Cormack: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish the Taylor Review of the Youth Justice System.

Lord Henley: Ministers are currently considering Charlie Taylor’s review of the youth justice system. We intend to publish the final report and the government’s plans for reform of the youth justice system before the end of this year.

Ministry of Defence

Military Aid

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which countries UK armed forces are providing training to (1) security forces, (2) armed forces, or (3) other armed groups.

Earl Howe: UK Armed Forces are providing training to Armed Forces or security forces in the current Financial Year in the countries listed below. The types of training provided cover a broad spectrum of subject matter including English language training, medical training, the conduct of disaster relief, and peacekeeping operations. The lists indicate the primary recipients of the training. In some cases training provided predominantly for members of the Armed Forces may also include participants from the security forces. Training may also sometimes be provided in the countries indicated to members of the Armed Forces of third party states, for example where one location is used to run a regional course with participants from several nations, or where training is provided to international peacekeeping forces in that country.Armed ForcesAfghanistanAlbaniaArmeniaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelizeBermudaBosnia and HerzegovinaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBurmaCayman IslandsChileChinaColombiaCzech RepublicCyprusDemocratic Republic of the CongoDominican RepublicDominicaEgyptEstoniaEthiopiaFijiGeorgiaGrenadaGuatemalaGuyanaIndiaIndonesiaIraqJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLithuaniaMacedoniaMalawiMalaysiaMaliMauritaniaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoNepalNigeriaOmanPakistanPapua New GuineaPhilippinesPolandQatarRwandaSaudi ArabiaSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSomaliaSouth AfricaSri LankaSudanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTunisiaUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUzbekistanVietnamZambia Security ForcesGabonIraqKenyaKosovoMaltaPakistanRwandaSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaUganda

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: EU Law

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many provisional benefit payments have been made by (1) HMRC and (2) DWP pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 since 1 May 2010.

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many benefit payments based on provisional calculations have been made by (1) HMRC and (2) DWP pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 since 1 May 2010.

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance HMRC and DWP have (1) published, or (2) issued to their staff, about the application of the provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 concerning provisional benefit payments and calculations.

Lord Freud: Regulation (EC) 883/2004 co-ordinates social security systems across the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 is the implementation regulation which provides for administrative co-operation between Member States to implement the co-ordination regulation. Article 6 provides for a Member State to make benefit payments on a provisional basis as the Member State of residence if there is a dispute with another Member State as to who is responsible for the payment of benefits. Article 7 provides for a Member State to make a provisional award of benefit if another Member State has not provided all the evidence requested from them. The Government does not collect information on the number of provisional benefit payments made on the basis of either Article 6 or 7 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009. There is published guidance on how to determine an award of benefit through the application of Article 6 (Annex A DWP Annex B HMRC). This is part of the Decision Makers Guidance which is made available to the public. In domestic guidance there is the facility for a decision maker to make an award of benefit where the evidence required is incomplete, with a revision of that award undertaken, if appropriate, once the required evidence is received. This would cover claims made under Article 7. Each claim to benefit is assessed on a case by case basis.

Supported Housing

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (HCWS154), when they intend to publish their evidence review of the scale, scope and cost of the supported housing sector.

Lord Freud: The Supported Accommodation Review was published online on 21 November and can be accessed on the gov.uk website.

Home Office

Asylum: LGBT People

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report by the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group and Stonewall, No Safe Refuge: the experiences of LGBT asylum seekers in immigration detention centres.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to address the concerns of harassment of LGBT asylum seekers raised in the report by the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group and Stonewall No Safe Refuge, and the concerns raised by the inquiry into the use of immigration detention by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees and All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We take the welfare of persons detained under immigration powers very seriously and no form of ill-treatment or discrimination is tolerated.Published guidance for staff in the immigration detention estate, Detention Services Order 2/2016 ‘Lesbian, gay and bisexual detainees in the detention estate’ and Detention Services Order 11/2012 'Care & Management of Transsexual Detainees' sets out how detainees with these protected characteristics should be safeguarded and treated in detention.The Government is currently considering the report ‘No Safe Refuge: Experiences of LGBT asylum seekers in detention’ by the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group and Stonewall.



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Asylum: LGBT People

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to revise the Immigration Act 2016 guidance on adults at risk in immigration detention; and if so, whether they will include a presumption that LGBT immigrants, particularly those seeking asylum, should not be detained.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The guidance in respect of the Government’s policy on adults at risk in immigration detention came into force on 12 September 2016. The Government has no immediate plans to revise it.There is a general presumption of liberty for all individuals. Detention is used only when necessary, most often in order to enforce an individual’s removal from the UK. The adults at risk policy makes particular provision for individuals who are regarded as vulnerable, by reference to a list of vulnerability “indicators”.Transsexual (and intersex) individuals are included in the list of indicators, following a recommendation from Stephen Shaw, in the report of his review into the welfare in detention of vulnerable persons, that transsexual people should be presumed unsuitable for detention. Furthermore, any LGB individual who exhibits any of the indicators, or who is otherwise recognised as vulnerable, would fall within the scope of the policy.

Refugees: Syria

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many LGBT Syrian refugees have been resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement programme.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The number of people who have been resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme is published in the quarterly Home Office statistics. The sexuality and gender identity of those vulnerable people being resettled under this scheme is not routinely recorded or reported.

Refugees: Syria

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps have been taken to assist LGBT Syrian refugees to access the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We are clear that our scheme will prioritise the most vulnerable refugees, and that is why under the VPR scheme the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) identifies refugees for resettlement using its established vulnerability criteria.We are working with UNHCR and other partners to intensify their outreach to groups that might otherwise be reluctant to register for fear of stigma/discrimination and unaware of the safe space and options available to them. This includes all religious minorities, LGBT people, people with disabilities, survivors of torture and sexual violence and others.

Refugees: Syria

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps have been taken to assist LGBT Syrian refugees who have been identified by the UNHCR as eligible for resettlement in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme (1) before, and (2) following, their arrival in the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Refugees being resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement scheme are invited to attend cultural orientation before they arrive in the UK.This includes information on the diverse and inclusive nature of UK society and on the rights and responsibilities of citizens and those resident here. Once in the UK they are provided with a 12 month support package tailored to their individual needs. This includes accommodation, caseworker support and integration assistance, medical and social care needs and English language tuition. We ask local authorities to think carefully about whether they have the infrastructure and support networks needed to ensure the appropriate care and integration of these refugees before they begin resettling people.

Asylum: EU Law

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long it takes, on average, to make a decision on member state responsibility for asylum claims under the Dublin III Regulation.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government is not aware of any published data on the time taken to make a decision on Member State responsibility for asylum claims under the Dublin Regulation.However, the Dublin Regulation specifies a range of time limits within which requests to accept responsibility must be made and replies received. The Dublin Regulation states that in all cases requests should be made as quickly as possible. The time limits vary depending on the circumstances of the case.We will always fully consider take charge requests from other EU Member States under the Dublin Regulation, and we have made significant progress in improving and speeding up the existing process since the beginning of the year. Ahead of the Calais camp clearance, transfer requests were processed within 10 days and children are transferred within weeks from France.

HM Treasury

Social Security Benefits: EU Countries

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many F-001 requests for information have been submitted by (1) HMRC and (2) DWP to other EU member states since 1 May 2010.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen: The issuing of F-001 requests is the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC does not keep a record of the number of F001s issued.

Public Finance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to reduce the current budget deficit.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen: The government remains committed to returning the public finances to balance, and has set out a new fiscal objective to achieve this at the earliest possible date in the next Parliament. The government’s new fiscal mandate for this Parliament is to reduce the cyclically-adjusted deficit to less than 2% of GDP by 2020-21. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast that this rule will be met 2 years early with £26.6bn of headroom. The OBR also forecast that the headline deficit will be reduced to 0.7% of GDP in 2021-22, the smallest deficit in two decades. The current balance, which is defined as the headline deficit excluding investment spending, returns to surplus in 2019-20.

European Parliament Members: Pensions

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will be responsible for the finances of UK MEPs’ pensions following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Lord Young of Cookham: The arrangements for withdrawal from the EU, including from the budget, will be a matter for the withdrawal agreement as part of the Article 50 process.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Labour Market

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of Brexit on the labour market.

Lord Bridges of Headley: As we conduct our negotiations, it must be a priority to regain more control of the numbers of people who come here from Europe. We are considering very carefully the options that are open to us. As part of that it is important that we understand the impacts on the different sectors of the economy and the labour market from any changes that we make. My Department, working with officials across government, continues to undertake a wide range of data analyses to inform the UK's position.

Department of Health

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many HSA4 abortion notification forms were not submitted to the Chief Medical Officer within 14 days of termination in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to ensure that the Abortion Regulations 1991 are properly enforced; and what disciplinary processes may be implemented for violations of those Regulations.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Section 2 of the Abortion Act 1967 and the Abortion Regulations in respect of England, require all Registered Medical Practitioners terminating a pregnancy to give notice in form HSA4 to the Chief Medical Officer within 14 days of the procedure. Information on how many forms were submitted late in each of the last five years is not routinely recorded. However, when a form is received 14 days after the date of termination, officials send a letter to the terminating doctor reminding them of their legal obligations. Wilful non-compliance with the notification requirements is a criminal offence and would be reported to the police to investigate.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Baroness Smith of Basildon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they use to measure the success of NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plans.

Lord Prior of Brampton: In order to be successful in transforming their local health and care system, Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) will need to demonstrate strong leadership, local engagement, an ambitious vision and a plan for financial sustainability. Over time STPs will be monitored on improvements in the quality of their local health services. Most importantly, through the work they are doing as a system, STPs will need to demonstrate a step change in patient outcomes in areas that have been identified a priority for the National Health Service such as mental health, cancer and primary care.

Health: Finance

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to undertake a public consultation on the future of public health funding in England.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The ring-fenced public health grant for local authorities will remain in place for 2017-18. In 2015, the Government announced that by the end of this Parliament local government would retain all of the money it raises through business rates. The Government consulted over the summer on an option for fully funding local authorities’ public health spending from their retained business rates receipts. We are currently considering the responses to this consultation and will publish a summary of the responses and a proposed way forward in due course.

Nurses: Resignations

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of nurses who qualified in 2010 left the NHS within five years of qualification.

Lord Prior of Brampton: NHS Digital provides data on the number of nurses working in the National Health Service in England, but information on the percentage of nurses who qualified in 2010 and left the NHS within five years of qualification, is not collected.

Nurses: Apprentices

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider the restoration of an apprenticeship-based route to qualification as a state registered nurse.

Lord Prior of Brampton: As part of the Government agenda to develop aspirational apprenticeships, the Department of Health and Health Education England have actively supported the development of an apprentice standard for a registered nurse. This has recently been approved by the Department for Education. The employer-led Trailblazer Group will need to complete the assessment plan and end point assessment before the standard is ready for delivery and can be used by employers.We expect to see the first nursing degree apprenticeship programmes begin in September 2017.

St Mary's Hospital Paddington

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with NHS England and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group for Central London over the future of the Jane Wadsworth Clinic, St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.

Lord Prior of Brampton: There have been no discussions between Ministers at the Department with NHS England and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group for Central London about the future of the Jane Wadsworth Clinic, St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.

NHS: Proof of Identity

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which NHS Trusts require patients to provide two forms of identification before they can receive treatment; and whether this applies to persons who attend accident and emergency departments or urgent care units for accident and emergency urgent treatment.

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many patients have been refused NHS treatment in the past year because they could not provide required proof of identity.

Lord Prior of Brampton: A small number of trusts are requiring patients to provide identification before they receive treatment. Care deemed by a clinician to be urgent or immediately necessary must never be withheld until payment is received. Where treatment is considered to be immediately necessary in order to save a patient’s life or to prevent their condition from being life-threatening, treatment must not be delayed or withheld in order to establish their chargeable status.